Why is it considered acceptable...

Let me just say this....I'm not going to continue the argument, but I'm not really sure what statement has everyone up in arms. Is it the "it's not racism" statement regarding crime? If so, I do believe that it's a valid point of discussion among a lot of people involved in criminology - I have taken a number of criminology classes in my undergrad, and I seem to remember a lot of models of why people commit crimes...I'm not entirely sure why that statement is so bad, just to be honest.

But that link supports my earlier claim! I said that it was not *solely* racism, and your link says that it is not *solely* anything else either - there are elements of racism, perhaps, but it is not the sole cause of higher crime rates among people of different races.

But that link supports my earlier claim! I said that it was not *solely* racism, and your link says that it is not *solely* anything else either - there are elements of racism, perhaps, but it is not the sole cause of higher crime rates among people of different races.

Don't try to edit after the fact. You said, and I quote, "that's a very complex issue, but not one of racism." I don't see anything implying, at all, one iota, that you thought racism had anything to do with it, but that it was simply not the sole factor--in fact, you explicitly said it WAS NOT an issue of racism.

But that link supports my earlier claim! I said that it was not *solely* racism, and your link says that it is not *solely* anything else either - there are elements of racism, perhaps, but it is not the sole cause of higher crime rates among people of different races.

Don't try to edit after the fact. You said, and I quote, "that's a very complex issue, but not one of racism." I don't see anything implying, at all, one iota, that you thought racism had anything to do with it, but that it was simply not the sole factor--in fact, you explicitly said it WAS NOT an issue of racism.

Own your *&^%.

Not only that, you then went on to say

Quote

Well, I'll be honest, I've not done a great deal of research on the matter. I know that in my own town, I'd be shocked if any of the local officers acted in a racist manner - they take great care to make sure that they handle things as evenly as possible

Further, the question isn't solely (as you're now apparently trying to reframe it) about why different groups of people commit crimes at different rates. Since irrx is prone to deleting his posts, this generally sums it up:

The situation is that the system is functionally racist, from legislation providing much stiffer penalties for rock cocaine (used more often by blacks) than for powder cocaine (used more often by whites), heavier patrols in predominantly "brown" neighborhoods, sentences for black and Hispanic defendants for the same crime being much lengthier than for whites, and prison populations that reflect a disproportionate number of minority inmates by a large margin. It's not just one issue, it's many issues. And just knowing what differential association theory is, isn't going to provide any footing in this argument.

I'll echo dash - own your *&^%. If you say stupid, uninformed *&^%, on this board or among people who actually have a clue, you're going to get called on it. And I'm not sure why you're so confused about what people are up in arms about - the especially problematic comments you've made have been quoted, bolded, and otherwise explained. Is this seriously that hard for you to follow? Seriously?

Sure, these are complicated issues, but it's simply not possible to have a nuanced discussion of the ways in which they're complicated if someone (that would be you, netopalis) is making assertions that racism doesn't play any part in it (see quotation above, if you're going to try to contest again that that is what you said) - without any evidence or explanation to back it up beyond a sort-of anecdote about small town cops (again, see quotation above).

Fine. I'm out of here...But I still think it's ridiculous to assert that my comments were racist. This thread is a prime example of why race relations are no better than they are - a man can't even attempt to discuss something like this without being labelled as a racist.

Fine. I'm out of here...But I still think it's ridiculous to assert that my comments were racist. This thread is a prime example of why race relations are no better than they are - a man can't even attempt to discuss something like this without being labelled as a racist.

Fine. I'm out of here...But I still think it's ridiculous to assert that my comments were racist. This thread is a prime example of why race relations are no better than they are - a man can't even attempt to discuss something like this without being labelled as a racist.